TRANMERE midfielder Josh Hawkes admitted Rovers had “no answers” when confronted with a determined Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The Stags’ 2-0 win at Prenton Park was the latest poor result for Hawkes and his team-mates who are seeing their play-off hopes rapidly fading after a dreadful run of form.

“They had a really good shape and it was hard for us to break them down,” said Hawkes. “They went direct, scored a goal just before half-time and it was very tough.

“It was very frustrating - they defended very well and in the end we had no answers.”

Hawkes has found the net seven times this season but not finding the net is just one of the factors in Rovers’ recent slump.

“It’s a collective thing,” he said. “As a group we need to be better at keeping the ball out of the net. At the moment, we are giving away too many cheap goals and it’s making it really hard for us.

“I don’t think we’ll ever give up - as a professional you never really think that way.

“Hopefully we can have a turning point and we can put a few results together.

“I’ve been here a while now and I do try and encourage the lads and keep us going - no-one wants to lose games and at home we’ve been pretty good. When we’re not, it’s a kick in the teeth and we’re suffering.”